Estrogen gel helps girls with chromosome disorder

	Tweet

Immature sexual development is a hallmark of a genetic condition called Turner syndrome, but Finnish investigators have found a way to help. They say an estradiol gel brings on slow, progressive pubertal development equal to natural puberty in such cases.

Turner syndrome is caused when one of the two X chromosomes that girls normally have is missing. It results in various physical characteristics and incomplete ovaries.

In the Finnish study, 23 girls with Turner syndrome were instructed to apply a gel containing estradiol, a form of estrogen, once daily on the skin of the lower trunk or thighs.

“We use very low estradiol doses during the first years of pubertal induction similar in natural puberty,” Dr. Saila Piippo from Tampere University Hospital noted in comments to Reuters Health. The dose is gradually increased over the next four years

According to the researchers’ report in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, average blood levels of estradiol increased 8-fold over the course of the study.

“The development of secondary sexual characteristics and uterine growth proceeded gradually during the study, mimicking natural puberty,” the team reports.

Importantly, Piippo said, “The gel was safe to use and did not have any effect on liver function.” It was also “easy to use and well accepted by the patients and their parents.”

“The treatment,” the investigator added, “can also be individualized, with dose adjustments based on the signs of pubertal development and uterine growth measured by sonography and (hormone) concentrations.”

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, July 2004.

RELATED STORIES:
Symptoms of Depression in Obese Children Linked to Elevated Cortisol   Growth hormone increases bone formation in obese women   New Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Treatment of Hirsutism   Testosterone may drive aggressive takeovers: study   Calcium problem to blame for rare syndrome   Hormone Therapy Helps Short Children Grow Up   Estrogen, Testosterone May Affect Atherosclerosis   Smoking May Raise Disease Risk by Increasing Hormones   Research Suggests Link Between Thyroid Disorder and Glaucoma   Study reveals stress hormone impacts on alcohol recovery   Pregnancy hormone key to repairing nerve cell damage   Frequent Inaccuracies in Testosterone Testing Lead to Call for Standardization

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]